Say you like incumbent middle linebacker Colin McCarthy but you can't get past your concerns about his inability to stay healthy. After all, he missed nine games this season and was less than full speed in the seven games he played.

Say you're in the market for a middle linebacker, especially if they can find one with proven leadership skills.

Say Manti Te'o is available.

Do you draft him?

In a word, no.

In two words, no way.

No matter how this bizarre story plays out over the next few weeks, Te'o is damaged goods. At best, he is a painfully naïve and gullible young man whose maturity is in question. At worst, he's a delusional liar that will say whatever he is necessary to get attention.

Either way, he's not a guy worthy of a high draft pick. Let somebody else take him and deal with his psychological rehab.

The whole Te'o saga gives new meaning to the term "fantasy football." It turns out that the story, tragic as it sounded originally, was simply too good to be true. And depending on whom you believe, he either created the story or perpetuated it. All these attempts to portray Te'o as an innocent victim are lame.

Notre Dame is known for closing ranks and taking care of its own, but Fighting Irish Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick took it to a new level in his press conference on Wednesday. At times fighting back tears, Swarbrick ignored all the solid reporting to the contrary and said:

"Nothing I've learned has shaken my faith in Manti Te'o one iota."

Sounds like Swarbrick has watched "Rudy" one too many times.

I was duped along with just about everybody else. When it came down to choosing between Te'o and Johnny Manziel for the No. 1 spot on my Heisman Trophy ballot, I weighed everything and went with Te'o.

While the award is supposed to be based on football performance, there's no question the story of how Te'o had coped with the loss of his grandmother and girlfriend played a role in my vote.